Allium at the Four Seasons Hotel

Editor's Review

Casual-chic Allium offers an affordable way to experience a little slice of the Four Seasons through small plates and lake views.

Fancy multifork fine dining is the name of the game at Chicago’s Four Seasons Hotel, but Allium dials the formality down a notch to offer a casual, small-plate outlet that still keeps the lake views, museum-quality contemporary decor and exemplary service standards intact.

The food categories on Allium’s seasonal farm-to-table menu can be confusing, but the pricing helps clarify each group. The Smaller section consists of appetizer-size plates in the $10 to $17 range; think tasty offerings like bison tartare and lamb Bolognese-mint gnocchi. Nuts, deviled eggs and olive nibbles are just $3 to $5. Hungry patrons can opt for the Bigger choices such as Wagyu short-rib sliders ($15) or a Wisconsin walleye ($25). The best (and perhaps the most delicious) meal deal may just be the Chicago-style hot dog ($14). Listed in the Mine category, this juicy, giant all-beef frankfurter is too good to share with elevated toppings like balsamic ketchup, beer mustard, relish, jalapeño peppers and mini heirloom tomatoes aside a brown paper bag of crispy, hand-cut fries.

The intriguingly flavored ice creams (sesame, Asian pear and pomegranate, caramelized parsnip and others; three scoops for $8) and tea selections offer additional incentives that lure well-heeled locals in for afternoon treats. And it’s hard to resist slurping the last salty-sweet drop of the miso butterscotch milkshake ($5), even in this swanky setting.